THE NIGHT BEFORE THE DUEL.

A TALE OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE.

BY MRS. BUSHBY.

AMIDST the many revolutions which have taken place during this first half of the nineteenth century, both in the Old World and the New, the many political vicissitudes, the many changes among nations, governments, society, and individuals, it is probable that "the War of Independence," as it was called, in what used to be Spanish America, is in a great measure forgotten. That war, which was undertaken to cast off the galling fetters in which a numerous people were held by a nation that had fallen from the high pre-eminence which it had once possessed amidst the proudest states of Europe.

The haughty conquerors of the gallant Moors-the glorious chivalry from among whom a Cid had sprung-had passed away from the country they had ennobled ; and though the once victorious banners of Spain still waved where the mighty Cordilleras rose, and over the glowing lands, where the ancient Incas had worshipped the Sun-God in temples of gold, its rule, still oppressive, was no longer irresistible in its power. The descendants of those very hidalgos, those very invaders, whose victories over the hapless aborigines had deluged with blood the vast plains and rivers of South America, had become a distinct people, who looked with neither love nor reverence to the country that claimed their allegiance, who cared not for its magnificent traditions, who writhed under its sordid grasp.

The continental part of Spanish America, as politically divided by the Spanish government, comprehended the viceroyalties of New Spain, or Mexico; Santa Fè di Bogotà, or New Granada; Peru; Buenos Ayres, or the provinces of Rio de la Plata; and the captain-generalships of Guatemala, Venezuela, and Chili. These territories were, before 1810, governed by chiefs named by the King of Spain, who acted independently of each other. The viceroyalties, &c., were subdivided into provinces, which were again divided into departments. The inhabitants of South America had long been dissatisfied with the arbitrary power exercised over them by the Spanish viceroys and governors, with the court of Madrid, and with the restrictions and hardships under which they laboured. They had frequently applied for redress of their grievances, but were always treated with contempt; it was not to be wondered at, then, that revolts were, from time to time, planned and attempted to be carried into execution.

Notwithstanding the discontent of the South Americans, they might long have remained subject to the tyranny of Spain, had not the bonds which united the New and the Old World been loosened by Napoleon Bonaparte, who invaded the mother country, seized on the royal family, and attempted to place his brother on the throne of Spain. The confusion which these events produced there, left the South Americans at a loss how to act. Instead, however, of availing themselves of the op

portunity to throw off the yoke of their oppressors, they remained faithful to the cause of Spain, and contributed largely to carry on the war with France. But though they preserved their allegiance to the imprisoned monarch, they wished to adopt some measures for their own security, and, following the example of Spain, formed Juntas, or bodies of respectable individuals, for their government. La Paz, the capital of one of the districts in the department of Charcas, set the example of providing for its own security in 1809. Quito and Santa Fè di Bogotà soon did the same; but these Juntas were speedily suppressed by force of arms; the Viceroy of Peru having sent a numerous body of soldiers against them. The patriots did not yield until the Spanish president promised that all past events should be buried in oblivion; but, regardless of his promise, he caused three hundred of the patriots of Quito to be murdered in cold blood, and many of the inhabitants of La Paz to be put to death in a shocking manner.

Spain was at this period divided under the authorities of the Junta of Seville, the Junta of Asturias, and the Regency, the members of which were assembled at Cadiz. Each required the South Americans to submit to its authority, and denied that of the others. Uncertain which to acknowledge, hating the despotism of the governments in South America, and fearing for their future fate, the inhabitants of many of the provinces determined to obtain by force that redress of their grievances which reasonable representations had failed to procure for them. The Spanish governors were deposed, new Juntas were formed, and a Supreme Junta was established at Caraccas in 1810.

On hearing of these events, the Spanish Regency declared war against the new governments; this act, and the cruelties practised by the Spanish chiefs and officials, entirely alienated the minds of the people, and stimulated them to a general insurrection. Thus commenced the war in Spanish America, which soon spread over an extent of more than sixteen hundred leagues.

When Ferdinand of Spain was restored to his throne, he might have regained his authority in South America had he adopted conciliatory measures; but he sent out against the patriots an army of ten thousand men, under the command of General Morillo, a sanguinary monster, who committed the most frightful atrocities, ordering even numbers of helpless women and children to be put to death. The war of independence was carried on with varied success; Caraccas, Carthagena, and other places of importance, were taken by the royalists, and retaken by the patriots. The whole vast country was in arms, and excesses and cruelties were common to both parties. So fierce were the passions of the combatants, that the contest took the name of "the war of death," and the prisoners on both sides were most frequently shot.

In the end, the patriots, or republican party, triumphed; all allegiance to Spain was cast off; and South America divided itself into a certain number of republics, each electing its own president, and other legal

authorities.

During this protracted war, several of the patriot chiefs distinguished themselves exceedingly. Simon Bolivar, who has been called "the Washington of South America," obtained, as he well deserved, the title of "Libertador de Venezuela." Attempts have been made by disap

pointed individuals to cast discredit on this great man; but when was ever the possessor of superior talents and genius safe from the attacks of envious inferiority? Bolivar was born at Caraccas in July, 1783, his parents having been not only wealthy but noble, as they belonged to los familias Mantuanas, a distinctive title enjoyed only by rich families of high birth. He was sent to Spain at the age of fourteen, and afterwards spent some time in France and Italy; he also, at a subsequent period, visited England. From his earliest youth he had cherished the idea of liberating his country from the yoke of Spain; and he lived to become the supreme dictator of his native state.

Among the other distinguished patriot leaders in Venezuela may be mentioned Generals Miranda, Arismendi, and Paez; Admiral Brion, a native of the West India island of Curaçoa; and the brave, handsome, and fascinating Colonel Montilla, who, with only eight hundred men, defeated three times the Spanish Brigadier Vicente Sanchez de Lima, and his nearly three thousand troops.

In Montevideo, Artigas, originally a captain in the royalist service, was the most prominent among the republican leaders; in Buenos Ayres, the most distinguished patriot chiefs were Rondeau, Alvear, and Alvarez; while in Chili, General O'Higgins was appointed commander-in-chief of the Chilian forces, and the heroic General San Martin carried all before him. In thirteen days his army effected its passage over the Andes, where they had one hundred leagues to cross, through defiles so narrow as not to admit two persons abreast, along the giddy verge of frightful gulfs, while the severity of the climate aggravated the difficulty of the passage. San Martin had also to transport across these lofty mountains artillery, baggage, and provisions. The splendid victory of Chacabuco, which took place soon afterwards, raised San Martin to the pinnacle of glory, and gave a new aspect to the affairs of South America. He was elected supreme director of Chili, but, with rare moderation, he declined to accept of that elevated post, and it was then offered to, and accepted by, General O'Higgins. The family of O'Higgins, as his name indicates, was of Irish extraction; his father had been Viceroy of Lima, and he himself had been educated in England, at the establishment of the Jesuits, at Stonyhurst, in Lancashire.

General Paez, who, in the annals of South America, is second only to the President Liberator, was very different from him. Bolivar was a highly educated man, and of gentlemanly, courteous manners; Paez was as rough, rude, and illiterate as the Llaneros, or "people of the plains," among whom he was born and brought up. These Llaneros somewhat resembled the Guachos of Buenos Ayres. They inhabited the Llanos,* the vast plains or pasture lands which extend to the Orinoco, and their occupation was to tend their numerous flocks and herds of every description. They were accustomed to ride the wildest horses, could endure great fatigue, and were brave to a degree; but they were a cruel, ferocious, and half-savage tribe.

Llanos is equivalent to the words pampas, savannas, meadows, steppes, or plains. The country between the mountains of the coast and the left bank of the Orinoco constitutes the Llanos of Cumana, Barcelona, and Caraccas.-Humboldt's Personal Narrative of Travels in the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent.

In 1820, General Paez had under his command the British legion, which was about six hundred strong. This legion was composed of English, Scotch, and Irish, many of whom were adventurers, others soldiers who had been engaged in the latter part of the Peninsular and French war, and had been discharged at the pacification of Europe after the battle of Waterloo. Some of the officers also had been in the British army, but, having nothing more to do at home, had sought or accepted employment amidst the patriots of the New World.

Many were the romantic anecdotes, the strange tales, current at that period on the Spanish Main, and among the adjacent West Indian Islands, of that wild warfare. Such daring deeds-such wonderful escapes-such dreadful privations-such scenes of alternate gaiety and misery! All are now forgotten-swept into the great vortex of the past! Some few, however, may still float, like straws on the water, on the surface of memory; and of these we shall relate a short story of jealousy, revenge, and a guilty conscience.

Two young officers of the British Legion were very great friends ; they had served together during the last part of the war which terminated in the defeat of the great Napoleon, and, together, had sought the distant shores of South America. They were both gay, handsome, gallant young men ; but neither were very strict in morals, and therefore they did not hesitate to avail themselves of the latitude which existed in some circles in the principal cities, and in smaller places also.

In a little town, where General Paez had fixed his head-quarters, there lived a lady of the Sangre Mezclada-mixed blood-who was extremely beautiful as well as captivating in manners. She was accomplished for a South American; that is to say, she embroidered tastefully, played well on the guitar, sang sweetly, and danced gracefully. What were her resources no one exactly knew, but it was suspected that a priest of high rank in the church and considerable wealth was an especial friend of hers, and that it was out of his coffers she found the means of obtaining the handsome furniture which adorned her saloons, the gold plate which glittered on her table, and the pearls, diamonds, and other precious stones with which she ornamented her magnificent hair and arms. But if the portly priest were permitted the honour of purveying her luxuries, he was not the only gentleman whom the charming Jacinta admitted to her boudoir. She managed very adroitly, however, and induced all of her admirers to believe that each was the favoured individual. Her beauty and fascinations had made a deep impression on Captain O'Donnell, one of the two young officers of the British Legion above mentioned; he had become quite her slave, and he carried his misplaced attachment so far as even to entertain serious thoughts of marrying her. He would not listen to a whisper against her; he believed the voluptuous priest to be only her father confessor, and he had carried his folly so far as actually to have fought one or two duels in defence of her fair fame, although he knew, of course, what were his own relations with her. One evening, however, that he had remained gambling till a late hour with some of General Paez's cavalry officers, who were all Llaneros, he thought, on approaching his dear Jacinta's abode, which was in the outskirts of the town, and stood in its own grounds, that he heard steps in a shrubbery not far from the house, and saw a man's figure stealing stealthily along. Startled and

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surprised, a pang of jealous fear shot across his mind, and he was on the point of rushing into the shrubbery to seize the daring intruder, when he heard a soft voice singing his favourite Spanish air. He stopped for a moment to listen to these melodious tones.

"Jacinta is thinking of me!" he exclaimed; "wondering, no doubt, why I am so late, and singing to while away the time until her lover is at her feet. The figure in the shrubbery, if it be really a figure, can have nothing to do with her or me." He hastened on towards the house, and entering a porch thickly covered with beautiful vines, he took a key from his pocket, opened a low door, and passed along a dimly lighted corridor to the private apartments of the fair Jacinta.

Holgazan!" she cried, shaking at him a slender figure, on which sparkled a splendid diamond ring, and half rising from a blue satin sofa, on which she had thrown herself, "porque tanto tarde ?”

Her guitar was lying on a gilded table near, and a wreath of flowers, which she had been weaving, lay in her lap. She took it up, and playfully threw it round his neck as he stooped to kiss her hand, exclaiming, with one of her brightest smiles, "Now you are my prisoner; I hold you in my flowery chains."

Could he doubt that beautiful creature, whose dark liquid eyes were resting on him with such looks of love? The shrubbery, the figure, and his unworthy suspicions were all forgotten, and he was more devoted to her than ever.

Things went on smoothly for a time-O'Donnell was completely hoodwinked, and remained in blissful ignorance of his fair enslaver's coquetry with others. He was the gayest of the gay; with his brilliant Irish wit, and joyous, buoyant spirits, he was the soul of the mess-table. The hours seemed to fly on rosy pinions while he was thus revelling in a fool's paradise. But one day he received a summons from General Paez, and was ordered by him to go to Caraccas with important despatches for the commander-in-chief, Bolivar. To hear was to obey, for Paez brooked no dissent from his will, and would not have accepted of any excuse, even if O'Donnell could have framed one at the moment.

He groaned at the idea of tearing himself from the enchantress Jacinta, of leaving her, without his protection, amidst a dissolute camp.

"What," he exclaimed to his friend De Lacy, "can have put into the head of that half, or whole, Indian savage, Paez, to fix on me to carry his despatches to Bolivar?"

"No doubt because you are a favourite of his, and he thinks he can place entire confidence in you,” replied De Lacy. But he knew full well how much he had secretly manœuvred to bring about the selection of O'Donnell for this mission. The fact was, he had followed the example of his friend, and had fallen in love also with the fascinating Jacinta, and it was by her command that he had laboured to get her Cerberus removed for a time. O'Donnell's visits had become too frequent; she was tired of him, and found his espionnage, though he did not intend it for such, somewhat inconvenient. O'Donnell went to take leave of her.

"Jacinta," he said, "I shall be miserable unless you will promise me to live in much seclusion during my absence. It will not be for long, you know, and I shall bring you such beautiful dresses from Caraccas."

Jacinta promised, with tears in her splendid eyes, she would not take a